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MY HUSBAND HAS COPD

17 Replies

I don't know if any of your remember, about three weeks ago my husband was in hospital with pneumonia, (he was discharged at the week-end).

I had been trying to get Attendance Allowance for months as we were housebound because of his illness and I was his carer 24/7. They kept telling me he was not ill enough to claim Attendance allowance even though I was up 4/5 times a night because of his breathing problem. He has been in hospital three times this year with pneumonia.

I wrote to my MP but only received confirmation of my letter. I emailed the Lung Foundation who told me to ring Age Concern, who told me to ring Age UK, I rang a couple of times and they promised to ring back but with the Hospital visiting I could not be sure if I would be back in time.

At the hospital I met an old friend I used to work with many, many years ago, she was now a Lung specialist. She told me to write to the City council, Welfare Department and tell them my story, I received a reply telling me to ring them when my husband comes out of hospital and when I received the next refusal for AA. and they would come to our house and help us with the forms.

Last week a lady rang me from the AA and asked a few questions, she knew things that I had not told them because when I sent in the last appeal my husband had not been taken into hospital so I assume she had been making enquiries about us with other people. The next day I received a letter confirming we had been awarded the higher rate of AA.

Since then a lot of things have come together, we now have a Community Matron, the physio is coming to see us (we were going to buy our own wheelchair but they are going to lend us one to see how I go on with it first before spending £100's on one.) the Pulmonary Rehab are coming to our house to see my husband because the Matron says he is not fit enough to attend classes at the moment. We went to the Blue Badge assessment yesterday and they did not ask my husband to walk as he was not too good at all, so we are keeping our fingers crossed for that. (They kindly lent us a wheelchair, even though they state on their paperwork they do not loan them to people to get to and from the car-park) which we really appreciated, otherwise he could not have got there.

I cannot believe after months of stress filling in forms after forms that things are now settling down, even all the hospital appointments the consultant organised for my husband are coming through, so when we see the specialist in a few weeks time everything should be there for them to assess.

I cannot thank this forum enough for all the help and support they gave me when I was at my lowest, I am 70 years old, luckily fit as a fiddle, don't take any medication apart from Asthma Medication, but the stress was killing me, our electric bills were high due to the heating being on 24/7, as you know when it is cold breathing is difficult. We did not leave the house for 8 months apart from hospital appointments, the taxis cost us a fortune as there were never any parking places near the hospital. The only respite I got was when my husband went into hospital, my sons told me to miss a day or two and they would go in my place. It was wonderful, but still worried about my husband so did not get the full advantage of my day off.

Sorry for the rant, but thank you all so much for your help, it does mean a lot when we know we are not alone and there are others going through the same thing.

Best wishes to all.

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17 Replies

Hi sweetthing

I am delighted to hear you are finally getting the help you need.

Marie x

in reply to

Thank you so much, it has been uphill all the way. I cannot understand why they make it so difficult to get anything. Our GP knew my husbands state of health and how many times he had been in hospital and never once told us about the Community Matron, I happened to spot it online and took the matter up with them. It should not be like this, without our lungs we would be dead so how can they treat this as trivial and not being 'ill enough' to get anything.

So pleased to hear things are getting sorted for you. TAD xx

pollyjj profile image
pollyjj

Good for you persevering, it's so hard these days to get what you deserve, especially when you have worked all your life and paid your taxes. It makes you wonder who on earth makes these dreadfull decisions do they realise they are ruining peoples lives.

Anyway after my rant I hope everything goes well for you and you worry a little less.

take care

*polly

valm profile image
valm

That's great news :)

in reply tovalm

Thank you.

Thank you all so very much.

in reply to

Sweetthing,

Make sure you speak to the consultant about your travel costs. They can organise an ambulance to transport your husband to and from the hospital at no charge to yourselves. Good luck.

in reply to

When we receive the hospital appointment they have always crossed out 'do you need transport', so I thought we were not entitled to it.

I will look into it though. Thank you.

buny993 profile image
buny993

Hi sweet thing because of your age you cant get carrers allowence but you do have a

underlying entitlement wich can be paide as a credit to your pension as saveing credit ask attendace at blackpool hope this helps you bob

in reply tobuny993

I have checked but it is means tested, and because we have always saved, we have a wee bit too much money to claim anything.

Thank you anyway.

in reply tobuny993

I have checked but it is means tested, and because we have always saved, we have a wee bit too much money to claim anything.

Thank you anyway.

Great to hear several things have come together for you and also your son's were able to help you out and go in your place when your husband was in hospital. don't hesitate to contact all those people again whenever you need to, Community Matron, GP, OT Team, Respiratory team at the hospital, AA, BLF helpline, Age UK etc etc. Doing so will help take some of the stress away.

All good wishes to you and your husband.

Zoee

in reply to

Thank you so much.

von1 profile image
von1

great news after all the stress you have been through

in reply tovon1

Thank you, it really is, I honestly do not know why they make it so very difficult to get the help you need.

sassy59 profile image
sassy59

Glad that things are coming together at last for you and your husband sweetthing. I do remember reading about your plight and how awful life was for you so it is great to now read that you are getting what you are entitled to. Great news and has cheered me up no end! Now, off into the sunshine while it lasts. Have a good day. xxxx

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